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“Human coronaviruses can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces at room temperature for up to 9 days. At a temperature of 30°C [86°F] or more, the duration of persistence is shorter. Veterinary coronaviruses have been shown to persist even longer for 28 d[ays].”
When the scientists delved into the literature on the persistence of coronaviruses on different surfaces, the results were variable. For instance, the MERS virus persisted for 48 hours on a steel surface at 20°C (68°F). However, on a similar surface and at the same temperature, TGEV survived for up to 28 days.
I’m going to be sewing up some cotton masks next week, as there is are no masks available and people are crying out for them. As they are fabric, they can be bleached or boiled and re-used. You are quite right that handling and removing a mask improperly can lead to more exposure than if one wasn’t wearing one in the first place. I see people out in public wearing masks and constantly fiddling with them- touching their hands to their faces more than if they weren’t wearing one.
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).
My favorite is the mask pulled up on the forehead like a pair of sunglasses while they talk on phone
This mask thing has caused more trouble than help. Hospitals shouldn’t have to scrounge around for masks. It kind of reminds of the “back brace” fascination from 10 years ago.
Right now I have 2.5 gallons and it is significantly dilutable. But I was wondering if I should be saving back this other stuff or using it as I have (which is outside on my astroturf and patio). I heard back from my friend. I sent one question: I have this dog product with these ingredients, is it safe to use with humans?
This is her reply (feel free to skip over it)
Those ingredients are similar to some used for humans. In the class of (exposure-wise) not great, but not terrible. The consequences of exposure have a different trajectory when young than old - we have that advantage.
Also though, not really a rocket launcher disinfectant wise. But, then, the issue being contact.
For surfaces, there is not much that beats household bleach, in terms of what is available to a homeowner. Even as far as that goes, there are a raft of things available in bio labs now, but if you pick up a bottle and read the fine print, which even in a science lab nobody but me does, but, if you did you would see the fine print goes on and on (and on) about what the stuff will, and will not destroy. Something like - “it destroys this if the contact time is more than 20 minutes and you jump up and down on one leg and it is Sunday, it does not destroy that unless the contact time is over one hour and you are a Capricorn…” etc. Put simply, by the time it is all over, soap and water and washing hands is tried and true. The soap makes bioactives desorb from skin, and for longer contact time and some things deactivate a bit too. A fair few disinfectants are snake oil for the manically interested in buying stuff and microphobic public (or science lab administrator wanting to cover their butt). With dogs of course you cannot incessantly wash with water-based anything because of the fur, and fur is, microbe-wise, ungodly sticky stuff, so prolly the product you have is good.
In sum, good stuff:
- for surfaces/objects, Cl-based bleach, a real zapper.
for skin, wash well, with soap; traditional type soap.*
for dogs, what you have.*
longer contact time (bleach on surface, disinfectant on human/animal, hand washing) is better than short.*
Looks like the shit is about to hit the fan almost everywhere. and, the problem is not dying, it is dying in acute physical misery. You have nice weather there now. If you do socialise, try to keep distance, and ventilation is good.
I’m writing back to tell her it’s not for washing dogs it’s for disinfecting kennels, so things like walls and floors. If I were short on bleach I’d use this on floors for sure.
Here is the actual data from the study cited above, for your edification.
Make the best decisions you can, but do not be lulled into a false sense of safety because 72 hours has passed since a presumed infected person vacated.
A whole lot of sources are citing a new study, and uncritically reporting that the virus will die on surfaces in 72 hours. I have taken the time to analyze this new study and here are key points I took from it:
Data consisted of 10 experimental conditions involving two viruses (SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1) in five environmental conditions (aerosols, plastic, stainless steel, copper, and cardboard).
i.e., This is a very small study under very limited conditions:
Viruses were applied to copper, cardboard, stainless steel, and plastic maintained at 21 to 23°C (69.8F to 73.4F) and 40% relative humidity over 7 days.
Note that the compiled 22 studies found that coronaviruses lasted significantly longer in cooler, more humid condition: “At temperatures of around 4°C or 39.2oF, certain versions of the coronavirus could remain viable for up to 28 days… At room temperature, a coronavirus responsible for the common cold (HCoV-229E) persisted significantly longer in 50% humidity than 30% humidity.”
There is every reason to believe that the new virus would also persist longer in colder, more humid conditions. The new study says:
We found that the stability of SARS-CoV-2 was similar to that of SARS-CoV-1 under the experimental circumstances tested.
On cardboard, the half-life of SARS-CoV-2 [“COVID-19”] was longer than that of SARS-CoV-1 [“SARS”].
Individual replicate data were noticeably “noisier” (i.e., there was more variation in the experiment, resulting in a larger standard error) for cardboard than for other surfaces (Fig. S1 through S5), so we advise caution in interpreting this result.
The longest viability of both viruses was on stainless steel and plastic
The findings and conclusions in this letter are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
TL;DR Nobody knows yet the maximum time it takes to be 100% sure the COVID-19 virus is inactive on a surface, but previous studies have shown human coronavirus can survive on hard surfaces for up to 9 days in cold, humid conditions. Veterinary coronaviruses last much, much longer. The new very small study shows that COVID-19 lasts the same amount of time as SARS in 40% humidity at room temperature.
What I hear is soap is the most effective, so a good solution of soap and water done for more than just a short wipe on hard surfaces should be a part of the regime.
My last guests before I blocked my listing left this past Monday, March 16th. I took bleach to the bathroom and it’s been sitting since then.
I used disinfecting wipes on door handles and light switches. I got damp towels from the guest room and the bathroom and cleaned in hot water with bleach.
I am not going in to the guest room until the end of March to do any cleaning. I have plenty to keep me going right now and no guests for the foreseeable.
My county is going into lockdown soon. This is scary…
This has probably been mentioned already, but for cleaning for coronavirus, more bleach is not better. 4 teaspoons to a liter of water. The water content is crucial to the disinfection. This was confirmed by my nurse friend in Canada who works in home care for the sick and elderly.
The biggest threat is the droplets in the air. If you don’t need to go in right away (and this can be arranged by blocking several days after each guest), then don’t. There’s no point in exposing yourself to the covid in the air, which is the most dangerous, just to sanitize a surface, which is not the highest risk.
I’m sorry @casailinglady. I am just mentioning it for those that are reading it later.
There is a lot of good advice about protective gear here. However, be particularly careful about how you take it off and dispose of it. Bottom-line, don’t touch the exterior of anything you’ve work until you’ve disposed of it or cleaned it.
Sharing. From Bloomberg article “NBA players loss of smell highlights unusual marker of Covid-19”
“…Turns out many have. A sudden, unexplained loss of these senses (smell & taste) is an EARLY symptom reported among Covid-19 patients in South Korea, China and Italy, according to ENT UK, which represents ear, nose and throat surgery professionals…”
My next guest arrives today. As I was doing final prep I realized I hadn’t sanitized the iron after the last guest had used it. I’ve removed it for now along with a number of extras that the guest might touch and then I have to sanitize. I’ve changed the text of my in room guest info sheet to include what I’ve done to prepare the room during this time.
COVID-19 can be active on many surfaces for hours to days, some up to 28 days! When I read this I almost fainted. I thought I was safe waiting a few hours to a few days and wearing gloves, etc. But coronaviruses can live on some surfaces for a long time and still infect you. Screw that! Our last guest left a week ago and nobody is touching that room for a while longer. We’re quickly learning that we are ALL at risk, not just older folks and people with underlying conditions. There aren’t enough ventilators or lifesaving equipment and personnel to save everybody. It’s not worth it!!
Just was reading how droplets can stay in the AIR for several hours, too. Or in textiles if you shake them (like bedding being pulled form a bed). Corona viruses are fairly virulent. If temperatures are low, they can still be active on surfaces for 28 days.
It kind of reminds of the “back brace” fascination from 10 years ago.
It’s not worth it!!